maintain good oral health

Don't waste time neglecting your teeth. Once you head down the wrong path, your smile can suffer from many problems such as cavities, gingivitis and even gum disease. Get proactive by following these excellent dental care tips.

Buy high-quality toothbrushes, and replace them as needed. The ideal toothbrush should be soft on your gums. You may require a soft toothbrush if your gums bleed when you brush your teeth. Bacteria grows on your toothbrush, so it is important to change your toothbrush out every three months.

Flouride is helpful in creating healthy teeth that are strong. You will be more likely to develop tooth decay if you are drinking tap water that is not enriched in fluoride. Use a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Another thing you can do is find a rinse that has fluoride in it.

There are special dental cleaners that are excellent for helping to keep your teeth extra healthy. Inter-dental cleaners are small disposables brushes that you can use to clean your teeth between brushings. Stim-U-Dent and Oral-B both carry popular interdental brushes.

Try to see your dentist once every six months. This will help you avoid having a major issue with your teeth. Also, you will be more comfortable with your dentist when you see him or her regularly. This relationship will be important if you need extensive work done.

If you're having trouble with your teeth like chipping, or you are in lot of pain, getting to the dentist quickly is recommended. When you try to avoid going to a dentist, more damage could be occurring. Visiting the dentist when you first notice an issue will save you a lot of money than if you wait.

Visiting the dentist can be an intimidating experience for small children. Reduce their apprehension by letting them know that a dentist helps them. Your child will feel much more comfortable going to the dentist if you choose one that has kid-friendly waiting and exam rooms.

You must not only remember to keep your teeth brushed, but your tongue needs a good cleaning too. Food can build on your tongue, just like it does on teeth, and not brushing it can cause bacteria to grow. This can cause bad breath, and the bacteria can spread to other areas of your mouth.

Don't use a toothbrush that has hard bristles when brushing your teeth. It can open up root surfaces and can also make gums start to recede. The structure of your teeth can also become worn down. These issues can lead to increased sensitivity and other problems, so be sure to use the softest toothbrush you can.

If you want to care for your teeth, you have to brush your teeth two times a day instead of one time. While you sleep, bacteria and germs build up in your mouth. This makes brushing in the morning an absolute must. As you eat all day, food residue builds up on your teeth, so you have to brush them at night.

There are literally hundreds of products available to take care of your stained teeth. Lots of stores have dental care sections, so you can check some of them out. Choose a product that you can tolerate well so that you will use it on a regular basis. Remember that directions for usage vary greatly from one brand to the next, so pay close attention to the fine print.

Follow proper brushing techniques. Brush when you get up and before bed. When you sleep, saliva dries to help keep bacteria down. Set your timer for about two minutes, brushing teeth at an angle of 45 degrees.

Avoid fruits and juices that are acidic, as the acid erodes tooth enamel. After eating citrus fruits or drinking citrus juice, you should thoroughly brush your teeth. This can help to ensure that the acid doesn't eat away your tooth enamel.

Rinsing with a mouthwash is an important part of good oral hygiene. Mouthwash will help you to keep your mouth rinsed out in areas you can't reach with your tooth brush. You should rinse your mouth two times each day. Make sure you are choosing a mouthwash that doesn't contain alcohol, as alcohol can dry out the mouth and lead to other problems.

Exercise caution with your use of oral irrigators. When properly used, oral irrigators can help with your dental routine. But they do not eliminate the need for regular tooth brushing. Also remember they will not remove plaque. Use oral irrigators properly so that you're not pushing bacteria into the tissue of your gums.

If you're hunting for a brand new dentist, try speaking with your insurance company. Insurance companies can provide covered, reputable dentists. You can then take this information and look through every dentist they recommend to find a reputable one.

Be sure to use a high quality mouth guard when playing sports. If you are unable to find a mouth guard that fits, get a custom made one from your dentist. Getting hit in the face can cause damage to your teeth. You'll save yourself a great deal of pain and money if you use a mouth guard.

Drink using a straw. When you're doing this you avoid hitting your teeth with the liquids because it goes down your throat. This will make sure your teeth don't get stained as much. You can get a big pack of straws at a local grocery store for a cheap price.

Teach children proper dental hygiene very early in their lives. Starting early ensures they understand how important it is. That will lead to better general health overall, too. Their dental bills will also be lower than those of others, too.

Get a lot of calcium in your diet for the healthiest teeth. Low-fat dairy products can provide that necessary calcium. If you dislike eating high-calcium foods, you should think about taking a daily calcium supplement pill.

As previously mentioned, not properly caring for your teeth now, may leave you with serious regrets down the road. Healthy teeth for life rely on your ability to take good care of them. Put these tips to use, and you can have healthy teeth and no regrets.